On Thursday Sept.30, 2010 the Cuarteto de Bellas Artes performed at Texas A&M International University Center for Fine and Performing Arts Recital Hall to commemorate Mexico’s bicentenary.
The Cuarteto de Bellas Artes or Fine Arts String Quartet of Mexico, is composed of musicians Babli Cotter, (Violin I), Viktoria Horti (Violin II), Matthew Schubring (Viola), Adolfo Ramos (Violenchelo) and guest performer, TAMIU’s Dr. Gilberto Soto (Double Bass).
The musical pieces performed ranged from the Mexican Independence in Sept. 16, 2010 to the Porfiriato (1880-1910) and finally the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920).
The three most applauded songs were Felipe Villanueva’s “Andante”, Juventino Rosas’s “Sobre las Olas” and Quirino Mendoza’s “Jesusita en Chihuahua”.
According to Matthew Schubring, who presented each of the musical pieces, this concert was the world premier of “Andante”. “It is a mysterious piece that reached my hands as a manuscript; this is one of the pieces from the Porfiriato,” says Schering.
The Porfiriato was a dictatorship era during the Mexican history. The song was made up of smooth melodic notes yet still recognized the deprived lives of the Mexican people during the time.
After this, perhaps the most famous Mexican waltz was played, Juventino Rosas’s “Sobre las Olas”. According to the, Revista Digital de la Undead para la Atención de las Organizaciones Socials, this song was, “Inspired on the whisper of the Magdalena Contreras water springs situated in the southeast of Mexico City.”
One of the most heartfelt songs throughout the concert was, Quinine Mendoza’s “Jesusita en Chihuahua”. Composed during the Mexican Revolution, it became famous due to its historic value and description of the revolutionary love.
After making the audience travel through time, the quartet was dismissed with a standing ovation, a wave of applauses.
To get a taste of what the concert click on the following links to listen to the musical pieces played.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX8Uk5ly-As
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt7pRtuocI8
(Wendy L. Chacón can be reached at wendylu@dusty.tamiu.edu)